My Custom Enclosure (56k Genocide within)

WakoNako · 04-28-10, 06:43 PM

So.... I've been posting a running work log for this on ball-pythons.net, but I figured you guys might appreciate some of my 'craftsmanship' lol.

So far I've been working on this for the last 4, maybe 5 days and its so far cost be a grand total of $4.67. I'm about to spend $20 on some flexwatt for a UTH that'll be positioned underneath a tile.

First off, this is Greg.

Everybody say 'Hi' to Greg lol

This is Greg guarding a bottle of water for me last night.

And this is Greg in his current enclosure.

Basically, the fiancee and I have been talking about building a new enclosure for Greg for a little while now and I finally started it last week as an excuse to get out of writing a paper for a college class... Yay procrastination!

I didn't really have a plan other than to make an enclosure big enough for him to grow into, but not so big as to stress him out. I also wanted to incorporate some storage space into it.

This is the basic shape of the structure. It's all built from 3/4" plywood.

Yours truly cutting a 7"x7" hole in the side for ventilation.

Vent hole completed. I've used Pegboard in all my vent holes and then put a nice trim over the seams.

This is the back panel of the enclosure. Its made from a single piece of Bead-Board with a ventilation panel stuck into it. The vent is 20"x7".

This is where I stood at the end of day one. The main structure was completed and I was left with a lot of filling and sanding.

WakoNako · 04-28-10, 06:43 PM

This is the top of the enclosure after 2-3days of solid filling > sanding > filling > sanding > wiping down > filling etc...

Another shot after the filler escapades.

To protect the wood from heat and moisture, I covered the base with 1/4" Hardie Backer.

As further protection, I stuck reflective foil to the top of the hardie to repel heat back up into the enclosure. On top of this foil will be a 1/2" sheet of hardie backer and then tile of top of that. There will be an 11"x11" hole in the hardie for where the UTH will lie.

One substrate barrier measuring 1/2" by 2.5" installed.

The doors will be secured with both magnetic catches and a deadbolt.

WakoNako · 04-28-10, 06:44 PM

One of the hinges. I couldn't find any to match this one, so I went and brought 4 new ones (there's the only cost so far).

Today I built the doors. This is just a test to see they fit when dry fitted together.

One complete door.

One complete draw unit.

One complete draw unit that works!

How the enclosure currently sits in the garage. I had to call it an early night to get some homework done lol.

Hillsberry · 04-28-10, 07:11 PM

That is a awesome enclosure!! Cant wait to see it finished! Beautiful ball python. Greg is going to love it!

infernalis · 04-28-10, 09:50 PM

That is some great looking work, Nice job!!

Thanks for sharing that.

Lankyrob · 04-29-10, 06:26 AM

Fancy spending some time in the UK - paying your airfare and supplying materials is probably cheaper than buying vivariums!!!

Fantastic work - cant wait to see piccies with the snake settled in!

=Carinata= · 04-29-10, 07:44 AM

im making mine out of an old set of draws. The glass window are ready to go in and im cutting some bamboo perches

shaunyboy · 04-29-10, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Fancy spending some time in the UK - paying your airfare and supplying materials is probably cheaper than buying vivariums!!!

know how you feel mate,i get mine from swell reptiles.they seem to be a wee bit cheaper than most.just type it in and you'll get their web site.if yours are cheaper please let me know.
cheers shaun

WakoNako · 04-29-10, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Fancy spending some time in the UK - paying your airfare and supplying materials is probably cheaper than buying vivariums!!!

Fantastic work - cant wait to see piccies with the snake settled in!

hahaha... well actually, I'm originally from the UK lol. I was born and bred in Derby and moved over here 5 years ago.

Lankyrob · 04-29-10, 03:27 PM

Shauny - havent looked at swell yet but have been quoted £150 for a 3tier 3foot viv set up (electrics not included) - the guy has siad he will "sort me out" in terms of heating etc when i tell him what i am keeping in each one.

Lankyrob · 04-29-10, 03:31 PM

Just had a quick look - swell do a three stack as separate vivs put on top of each other for £175. The ones we are looking at are custom made and will be one unit containing the three separate sections.

WakoNako · 04-30-10, 05:51 AM

Apologies for the lack of update last night, I was just on the go all day yesterday and I have a final this morning.
I did however find 20 minutes yesterday to pop open a can of primer/bonder/sealer and give the enclosure the quick once over as well as finishing up filling and sanding the draw front, making that ready for primer.
I'm working today, but hopefully (so long as I don't hurt my back anymore) I'll get the doors completely squared off and installed tonight.

Coffee Black · 04-30-10, 06:10 AM

Great work man. Will be an awesome enclosure.

emseeKAY · 04-30-10, 11:28 AM

thats a very nice enclosure, hopefully once im done college ill make myself one of those haha

WakoNako · 04-30-10, 07:03 PM

This is what y'all missed last night.

A spot of primer

And this is where I just left it tonight.

Installing the doors temporarily.

The right hand door sporting a new lip to ensure there are no gaps between the doors for the snake to take advantage of.

Both doors temporarily hinged and in place. Truthfully, the doors are a little off square, but this is my first enclosure. On my next one I'll pre-square everything before I'm permanently join it.

Installed the final layer of hardie. The tile with be glued to this.

Ventilation holes drilled in to the floor to stop a build up of heat. Do you think I should make them bigger?